Inadvertent Adventures

by Jones, Loren K.

  *

  The voyage through hyperspace was long and boring, but not arduous. Days crept past, one after another, until after one-hundred and twenty-six days in hyper, the alarm sounded. “All hands don environment suits for transition,” Ann ordered, and the crew quickly obeyed. When everyone reported that they were suited and secure, Ann gave Sterling the order. “Take us into normal space, Mister Stevenson.”

  The transition was a little shaky, but there were no red lights on the board as they oriented the ship toward the star Nuwe Vaderland. “Sterling, send out our identification message and request that a tug be dispatched to catch us. I seriously doubt we have enough fuel left to stop our momentum.”

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Sterling answered as he triggered their standard identification broadcast. “What about our claim on Farflung and Frisland?”

  “One thing at a time, Sterling. One thing at a time. It’s too bad that DA-CC isn’t active in the Nuwe Vaderland System. We’ll have to use the ship’s account to get a full repair and refuel, and then continue on to Trondheim. We’ll send the initial claim information to the Confederate Council while we’re in port.”

  It took nine days before an in-system tug joined with them and used its tractors to slow the Admiral Ann’s Revenge enough to not overshoot the planet. By that time they were down to just two percent in their fuel tanks, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief that they had made it.

  Ann was on the secure radio with the port authorities, and received orders to anchor out rather than dock until Station Health made their determination of what, if any, contamination the Admiral Ann’s Revenge had brought back from their adventure. It took twelve hours before the verdict was announced.

  The orbital traffic controller contacted the Admiral Ann’s Revenge on an open channel. “Admiral Ann’s Revenge, please dock at Jan Smuts Station, Port Retief. You will be met there by the repair specialists you requested.”

  “Admiral Ann’s Revenge acknowledges instructions to Jan Smuts Station, Port Retief,” Denise answered, then toggled the intercom to Ann and Sterling’s stateroom. “Ma’am, we have docking instructions.”

  Ann’s sleep-muffled voice answered, “We’ll be right up,” and then the intercom clicked off. Five minutes later Ann and Sterling reached Control. “Have you plotted the course, Bart?” Ann asked.

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Bart answered.

  “Denise, please take us to port.”

  “Yes, Ma’am. The repair crew is supposed to be meeting us there.”

  Because of the earlier inspection by Station Health, they were able to open their hatches immediately upon arrival, and six men were waiting for them. “I’m George Van der Goff, Piet Retief and Sons Shipfitters,” the leader said as he stepped forward. “Who is the Chief Engineer?”

  “I am,” Olaf said. “Olaf Larsson, and these two are my team, Thom Oslund and Balder Pastulka.” He paused as the introductions were acknowledged. “Come with me and I’ll show you what we found.”

  The nine men quickly vanished, leaving Ann and Sterling to greet the next visitor. This time it was a very tall, dark-skinned woman in an expensive suit. “I am Arian Steinman, System Commissioner of Extraterritorial affairs. I would like to speak with Captain Stevenson about the stellar and planetary claim she opened.”

  Ann stepped forward and shook her hand. “I’m Captain Stevenson, and this is my husband and First Mate, Sterling Stevenson.”

  “A pleasure, I’m sure,” she said with a fleeting smile that never touched her eyes. “Now, as to this planet and star that you are claiming. You claim to have discovered it by happenstance, resulting from a hyper drive malfunction. The location is well outside of the acknowledged boundaries of the Confederacy. How did you get so far out?”

  Ann shrugged. “We don’t know. The drive malfunction was something that wasn’t listed in the literature, and we have no idea what caused it or how it affected our course. All we know for certain is that it took us nearly four months in hyper to get back.”

  “Well, it would seem fortunate that you had plenty of supplies on board,” Mizz Steinman said in a slightly insulting tone.

  “We didn’t,” Ann stated flatly. “We had a few fresh vegetables from our hydroponics section and our cargo of nova wheat. We’ll have to pay a penalty for breaking into the grain, but it beat starving.”

  “Oh, I wasn’t aware that you were carrying grain. You have filed a course plan to the planet Trondheim. What is your purpose there?” the Commissioner asked as she checked her MemoPad.

  “To deliver the grain. If we’re not too late. Our understanding was that it was for a farming experiment.”

  The Commissioner nodded. “Very well. It is somewhat surprising that you are not going to the inner systems to pursue your claim on-what did you call it? Farflung and Frisland? No matter. I’m sure you know what you are doing.”

  The tone of her voice said exactly the opposite, and Ann bristled slightly. “Our contract requires us to at least try to deliver our cargo. After that we will be able to ‘pursue’ our claim.”

  Mizz Steinman sniffed and turned away, walking toward the elevators that would take her up to the administrative levels of the station. Ann and Sterling watched her go.

  “She’s up to something,” Ann said to no one in particular.

  “Yep,” Sterling agreed.

  Ann grinned up at him. “It’s a good thing we didn’t give her the real coordinates of the Farflung System.”

  Sterling gave her a Cheshire-cat grin in return. “Yep. We should be refueled in about two hours. CM’s order for supplies is already on the way. I’m using my own account to get food delivered from the Cape Town Deli. I really admire what Kat was able to do with what she had available, but, Lords of Space, I am so sick of her cooking.”

  Ann laughed and led the way back into the ship. The food arrived, and everyone, especially Katrina, was loudly appreciative. Carrie-Marie had, at Ann’s suggestion, taken advantage of the large capacity of the Francine Webber class’ refrigerators and freezers and ordered a loadout of nearly twice their usual thirty-day supply of consumables. Some of it might spoil eventually, but none of the crew ever wanted to be down to eating the cargo again. Katrina had requested a large store of spices as well, and Ann didn’t even blink when she signed for the extra six thousand credits. Some things were worth the extra money.

  It took nine hours before the shipfitters were satisfied with Olaf’s repairs. One Johansen coil was replaced as a precaution, but other than that Olaf and his men had done a fine job.

  With fuel and fresh supplies on board, the Admiral Ann’s Revenge boosted out of Beloofte on course for Trondheim.

  *

  “I canna believe this!” the man in Galway shouted as his ‘Pad flew across the room to shatter against the wall.

  “What’s got your blood pressure up this time?” the woman asked.

  “That bloody ship, the Admiral Ann’s Revenge.”

  “She’s gone, lost more’n five months ago.”

  “She’s back,” he hissed as he stalked across the room. “Not only did she survive a hyperspace drive malfunction and make it back, but they found a new star system. A system far outside the boundaries of the Confederacy. A system with a habitable planet.”

  “God has turned against us,” the woman muttered.

  “There is one ray of sunshine through these clouds,” he said as he turned to face her.

  “An’ that would be?”

  “One o’ the crew is listed as Katrina Von Rubenstein.”

  “The old bastard’s get?”

  He grinned. “His youngest daughter.”

  Her smiled was enough to make even him shudder. “Tell my old friend Brandon that I’d appreciate access to his daughter’s new system.”

  He nodded. “As soon as I get-”

  “And stop throwing those things!” she snapped.

  *

  Trondheim was a beautiful world, and Ann was in contact with the authorities as soon as th
ey made orbit. “Trondheim, this is the Admiral Ann’s Revenge, in orbit with a cargo of nova wheat.”

  “Admiral Ann’s Revenge, what the hell happened to you? You are over four months late on your delivery,” a woman’s voice answered just a few minutes later. “We had to send our emergency buoy to let New Frankfurt know that you hadn’t arrived and order additional supplies.”

  “Trondheim, we had a hyper drive malfunction. It took us off course and we had a difficult time getting back,” Ann answered.

  A different woman’s voice answered this time. “You are too late for the growing season, Admiral Ann’s Revenge. We lack the storage facilities to handle the grain over the local winter. Due to your tardiness, drive malfunction or no, we refuse delivery. You may protest to DA-CC if you wish, but as the Dean of the School of Agriculture on Trondheim, I will not accept your shipment nor sign for your payment.”

  Ann sat in silence for a moment, and then keyed her mic. “Very well, Trondheim. We will be leaving. Under Confederate Law, we are placing a lien on the cargo, which will be sold to recover our costs since the delay was an ‘Act of God’ and out of our control.” She cut the circuit with a vicious stab and turned to face Sterling and Denise. “Plot a course for Atlanta, Denise. We may lose on this shipment, but we won’t lose on this trip. Sterling, don’t wait for an order. Boost out of here as soon as Denise gives you the course.”

  The ship had gotten underway and was already sixty million kilometers from the planet when a new message arrived. “Admiral Ann’s Revenge, what are you doing? We can negotiate for a partial delivery of your cargo. We also have several message packets that must be delivered to New Frankfurt. Admiral Ann’s Revenge, acknowledge.”

  Sterling looked at Ann, but she just shook her head. “Maintain course and speed. Sterling, open a channel to the planet.” When Sterling nodded, she spoke again. “Trondheim, upon your refusal to take receipt of the cargo we set course for a new destination. We lack the fuel to play orbital games where there are no port facilities. You may transmit your messages and we will take them aboard as a courtesy, but we are no longer under contract to you.”

  The communications lag was becoming evident and several minutes passed before they received an answer. “Admiral Ann’s Revenge, much of this information is highly sensitive and cannot be broadcast. Please return to orbit and send your shuttle down to take the secure storage media on board.”

  Ann’s expression was anything but pleasant as she replied. “Trondheim, we have expended too much fuel already due to the unexpected mass we are carrying, and returning to orbit would dangerously deplete us. I cannot hazard my ship and crew in order to play power games with planet-bound administrators when there are no fueling facilities in the system. Your messages and information will have to wait for the next ship—which I can guarantee will not be us. Admiral Ann’s Revenge out.” Ann stood and walked toward the door. “Do not acknowledge any other transmissions from Trondheim.”

  Sterling and Denise both said, “Yes, Ma’am,” as she walked out of Control. Sterling looked at Denise and raised an eyebrow. “I wish they hadn’t done that,” he commented aloud. What he kept to himself was the thought, She won’t forgive this. Trondheim is going to have a hard time if they want to have any dealings with Frisland.

  Chapter 22

  DUE TO THE GLOBULAR NATURE OF the Confederacy and hyperspace, it only took three days to reach the Georgia System from Trondheim. Their arrival was noted without interest until they reached the one hour from orbit mark and Ann broadcast their desire to meet with the Commissioner of Planetary Claims and their reason for doing so. Then things got interesting.

  “Admiral Ann’s Revenge, this is Commissioner Terras of Planetary Claims. Your message indicated the discovery of a new planet that shows a potential to be habitable by humans. Is this correct?”

  Ann answered on behalf of her crew. “Yes, Commissioner Terras, that is correct.”

  “Admiral Ann’s Revenge, please dock at Savannah Space Harbor, Dock Stewart,” the commissioner said, and Ann acknowledged the transmission. Seven hours later the Admiral Ann’s Revenge nestled into the Savannah Space Harbor at the indicated dock.

  Two women and a man were waiting when Station Health cleared the Revenge to open her hatches. One of the women was familiar. “Mizz Steinman, how unsurprising to see you,” Ann said as she stepped off the ship.

  “You may as well turn around, Captain Stevenson. Planet Mubutan in orbit around the star Pelava has already been properly claimed and certified,” Mizz Steinman said with a smug expression on her face.

  “That’s just lovely,” Ann said as Sterling chortled behind her. “I do hope you didn’t use the coordinates that we gave you on Beloofte.”

  “You gave me no—”

  “Of course we did. Of course, they were for a piece of empty space some seventy light-years from Farflung and Frisland. Why do you think we didn’t file the official paperwork on Beloofte? We wanted to make sure of our claim when we got here.”

  “You evil little bitch,” Mizz Steinman snarled, but Ann just laughed.

  “Experienced diplomat, not bitch, though I can understand how you might find the distinction a little hazy,” Ann said as her eyes danced merrily. “Now, Commissioner Terras, we would like to file a stellar and planetary claim, in accordance with Article VII, Section D, Subsection XVI, Paragraph IX of the Articles of Confederation. Said star is a G7 main sequence yellow star, and said planet is the forth planet in the system, as counted from the star.”

  “You cannot—” Mizz Steinman snarled, but Commissioner Terras stopped her with a raised hand.

  “I will deal with you and your—claim—later, Arian. It is very disappointing to learn that you would do something like this. Leave now, but don’t leave the system. I’m sure the Confederate Justice people will be contacting you soon.”

  *

  Ann and Sterling were taken to the government center down on the planet Atlanta immediately. The Planetary Claims commission had convened as soon as they had received Ann’s message and had already analyzed the attached data. In addition to Commissioner Terras were Commissioners Adamo Rivas, Lorgnette Sheffield, and Mitrian Kottan.

  “Captain Stevenson,” Commissioner Kottan began, her deep brown forehead creased in puzzlement, “how is it that you were able to reach such a distant system?”

  “We had a hyper drive malfunction, Ma’am. So far, no one has been able to determine exactly what went wrong or what happened when the drive started fluctuating,” Ann answered.

  “It sounds like you had a remarkably lucky accident, Captain,” Commissioner Rivas said as he twirled a stylus around his fingers.

  “What was remarkably lucky was that our engineers were able to fix the drive, Sir,” Ann answered as she shifted her attention to him. “That and we were carrying an edible cargo.”

  “Your claim included an initial survey that indicates the fourth planet may be habitable by humans. You understand, of course, that the Confederate Government must determine if there are any native species that would prevent your claiming the planet, as well as determining if the planet is, in fact, suitable for human habitation,” Commissioner Sheffield said as she studied something on the desk in front of her.

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Ann again answered.

  “Very well,” Commissioner Kottan said as she put her stylus down. “This concludes the initial claims phase. We checked all of the Confederate Claims records before you arrived, and no one has ever been out as far as you were. A Navy survey vessel will be dispatched, and they will determine the final status of your claim and suitability for habitation of the planet, but I think we can grant you mineral claim to all non-habitable planets. Your data indicates three rocky inner planets and two gas giants in addition to your habitable world.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  “That will be all for now. It will be quite some time before the survey is complete, so you should probably go about your business. When we receive the
Navy’s report, you will be contacted.”

  Ann and Sterling nodded to the commissioners and left without saying anything else. There was nothing to do now but get on with their lives.

  The DA-CC Manager for the Georgia System was waiting in the wardroom when Ann and Sterling arrived at the ship. “Captain Stevenson, I am Johan Von Rubenstein,” he said as soon as he saw them.

  Katrina walked up behind him and said, “Captain Ann, this is my oldest brother, Jon,” and smacked him in the back of the head. She dodged away from his return swing with a laugh.

  “Be that as it may, I am here to inform you that DA-CC has an interest in the system you are claiming. You were under contract to—”

  “That contract does not include discoveries made as a result of a malfunction,” Ann interrupted. “You know that as well as I do. Confederate law does not allow you to claim that we were under contract so the planet is yours.”

  “That was not what I was going to say, Captain. You have a suspicious and distrustful nature. What I was about to say was that, since you were under contract, we would like first bid on establishing a presence in the system. Your Miss Carter was kind enough to show me the readouts from your uninhabitable worlds. Your analysis that the inner gas giant is suitable for starship fuel mining makes your system much more interesting. And accessible. The lack of an asteroid belt means planetary mining, but that is not a major concern. The third planet is in a region that would allow an orbital mining operation with minimal radiation shielding.”